Check-hook.



J. E. MODADB.

.CHECK HOOK. 'APPLIoulox rILnn- JULY 15,1910.

Patented July 11, `1911.

JAMES E. MODADE, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

CHECK-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Application led July 15, 1910. Serial No. 572,175.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES E. MCDADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bangor, in the county of Penobscot` and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Check-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to check hooks for harness and more particularly to an automatic check hook which will permitthe horse to lower his head for the purpose of drinking and will automatically draw the hook back into a locked position, and the object of my invention is to provide a novel form of locking and unlocking` means, the

` locking means being automatic in its locking operation, and released by means of the pressure of the rein or line thereby completely avoiding the necessity of getting out of the carriage or wagon for the purpose of unchecking the horse.

With these objects in view my invention consists essentially in providing a spring actuated drum to which a metallic tape is attached, said metallic tape being connected to the hook proper and capable of being unwound whenever the horse desires to lower its head, said hook being adapted to be engaged by a spring actuated bolt which normally holds it in a locked position, said'bolt being released by means of a lever the rear end of which extends along the side of the check hook and is adapted to receive the pressure of the rein or line for the purpose of releasing the bolt so that the spring actuated drum can be brought into operation.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure l is a detail perspective view of the check hook constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is aside view partly in section. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the cap or cover removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out my invention I employ a base A which is shaped to conform to the ordinary harness saddle and this base may be connected to the top of the saddle by means of a bolt or any convenient form of fastening means. The rear end of this base is flanged or flared as shown at A after the usual manner of check hook bases. vThis base A is provided with two parallel side members B which extend upwardly from the base and mounted between said side members is a drum C, said drum being mounted upon a bolt D which passes through the side members and is fastened therein. A convolute spring E is also wound around said bolt D and has one end connected with the drum C while the other end is connected to the adjacent side member B. A metallic tape F is wound around the drum C, one end being connected to said drum while the other end of said metallic tape is connected to the rear extension of the check hook proper Gr, said extension G entering an aperture A2 produced in the base and this rear extension G has an openingrecess G2 which is adapted to receive the lower end of a spring actuated locking bolt H which is arranged between the side members and works through the base and a connected cross piece H, a spring H2 surrounding said 'bolt between vthe base and cross piece for the purpose of normally holding said bolt in its downwardly projecting position. The front face of this bolt is beveled in order to `permit the rear extension of the hook to pass freely thereunder.

Now it will be understood that when the bolt H is elevated so as to release the hook. the said hook can be drawn away from the base drawing out the metallic tape and winding up the spring and this operation takes place as the horse is lowering its head for 'drinking and when the horse raises its head the vspring will immediately act upon the drum and will wind the metallic tape thereupon and in so doing will draw the hook back to the base bringing the apertured rear extension into engagement with the spring actuated bolt which automatically locks the hook proper to the base. When it is desired to release the hook proper so as to permit the horse to lower its head I employ a lever I, the forward end of which extends under the shoulder formed upon the spring actuated bolt and the rear portion passes through a slot I produced in the flared or flanged portion A of the base and the extreme end of this lever is curved laterally as shown at I2 so that the rein or line can be thrown over said lateral extension and the weight of this line or rein is suliicient to lift the forward end of the lever and consequently lift the spring actuated bolt out of engagement with the hook proper. The horse is thus at liberty to lower its head and as previously stated, when it again raises its head the spring actuated drum will automatically Wind up the tape and draw the hook proper into its locked position.

A detachable cap or cover J lits over the various working parts and is connected to the base by means of small screws. This cap or cover can be quickly and easily removed whenever it is desired to obtain access to the working parts of the hook. It Will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple construction of check-rein hook which will securely hold the check-rein locked until it is desired to release the horses head and it will be further noted that said hook can be released by simply throwing the line over the rear end of the lever, thereby avoiding the necessity of getting out of the carriage or wagon.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A check rein hook comprising a base, having a slotted rear end, a spring actuated drum arranged on said base, a tape upon said drum, a hook proper attached to one end of said tape, a spring actuated bolt arranged on said base and adapted to engage said hook, and a lever adapted to operate said bolt, the rear end of said lever extend ing through the slotted rear end of the base as set forth.

2. A check rein hook comprising a base having a slotted rear end, a spring actuated drum arranged on said base, a tape upon said drum, a hook proper attached to one end of said tape, a spring actuated bolt ar ranged on said base and adapted to engage said hook, a lever arranged upon the base having its forward end adapted for engagement with the spring bolt, the rear end of said lever extending through the slotted base and bent laterally, and a housing at,- tached to the base and adapted to cover the part-s connected therewith as set forth.

JAMES E. MCDADE.

Vitnesses C. 7. FowLER, E. B. MoBA'rI-L Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

